One of the things that was most frustrating for me when I was homeless was a lack of transportation.  Shelters sometimes have bus tickets to give out but they are usually in short supply and only given for "approved" activities.  Anywhere I've been and used the bus system, they always allow transfers.  Sometimes, after I would use my bus pass, there would still be time left on it.  I always thought it was a waste and have sometimes given it to someone who was in need to get where they needed to go (or just to get away from the shelter for a while). 

Especially in shelters, I always thought it would be a good thing to have a bus transfer "box" where people could leave their transfers for each other to help them get around.   Bus passes, in general, are a helpful resource for the homeless.

And, if you have extra space in your home, consider allowing a homeless person to share it with you.  Obviously, use your best judgement, but I found the shelters to be "a step up from prison" and not very helpful to getting back on my feet.  Being in a cleaner, safer environment with at least a little privacy was helpful for me.  To this end, my mantra for homelessness is to build, build, BUILD more low cost/free housing.

http://tinyurl.com/y9jmw5 Pet Food Drive for Pets of Homeless People by Steve, Friday, December 01, 2006 Last October we wrote about a new program from Banfield the Pet Hospital to collect pet food to help homeless people feed their pets. We wanted to point another program also doing this. Feeding Pets of the Homeless is a program that sets up pet food collection bins at veterinarian offices and pet hospitals around the country for purpose of donating the food to the pets of homeless Americans. It is estimated by the National Coalition for the Homeless, that between 5% to 10% of homeless people have dogs and/or cats. There is a list of participating clinics & hospitals Feeding Pets of the Homeless website: http://www.PetsofHomeless.com. *fair use*

"recycling money could be put toward temporary shelter - such as hotel rooms - for those who need to get cleaned up and look for a job so they can put a roof over their heads and food on the table."

http://tinyurl.com/yg9cmc Old meters collect money for homeless 2 hrs 53 ago Old meters collect money for homeless 2 hrs 53 ago Angelos kicks off Salvation Army’s kettle campaign 2 days ago New scholarship helps community volunteers gain education 4 days ago Kids from Johns Hopkins design ties for charity 6 days ago Center provides support, resources to young parents 9 days ago Nonprofit helps former volunteer with recovery 12 days ago Boys & Girls clubs benefit from gang-prevention grant 13 days ago Shelters ready to serve area’s homeless 13 days ago Harford women vets group seeks to help keep other veterans warm 21 days ago Outreach program for foreign-born residents turns 25 Printer Friendly | PDF | Email | digg Luke Broadwater, The Examiner Read more by Luke Broadwater Nov 15, 2006 5:00 AM (2 hrs 53 mins ago) Current rank: # 640 of 6,398 articles BALTIMORE - With the drop of quarter, city officials say, people passing through downtown Baltimore can turn “despair” into “hope.” City officials began installing old coin-operated parking meters in downtown Baltimore Tuesday, encouraging citizens to put their spare change in the meters — instead of giving it to panhandlers. When a passerby drops change in the meter — which is designed with the signs “despair” and “hope” — the money will go directly to Baltimore Homeless Services Inc. “We want to have a constructive way to help the homeless,” said Downtown Partnership president Kirby Fowler. “We also have a problem with panhandling downtown. We get complaints from tourists, residents and businesspeople. So we thought, ‘We have to find a way that folks can say no to panhandling and yes to helping the homeless.” The meters are the latest part of the Downtown Partnership’s “Make a Change” program, which emphasizes that money should be given to charities and not to panhandlers. In addition to the new meters, the partnership has placed “Make a Change” collection boxes in downtown businesses, hotels and other venues to collect money for the homeless. lbroadwater@baltimoreexaminer.com *fair use*

Someone who's in touch with what it's like to be poor would be welcome- and a much-needed change!

This is probably going to be the scenario:  Bush and Cheney will be gone by July by means of impeachment.  That means the next speaker of the House of Representatives will be President of the United States.

Why not Jesse Jackson Jr. for speaker?  Or Martin Luther King III?  Or Jesse Jackson Sr.?  All 3 are eligible, and all three willl get the poor man his money, being involved with the Poor People's Coalition which advocated guaranteed minimum annual income, among other agenda items.  Don't you think an antipoverty president would improve society, form a more perfect union?  Jesse Jackson Sr. was in the Navy, for all you militarists who have to have a veteran in the top spot.  Know your House:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speaker_of_the_United_States_House_of_Representatives

A man who visited the Catholic Worker house in my area from another Catholic Worker house gave a talk about some hikes he's been on. While one of his hiking buddies used a pup tent our visitor used a tarp to protect himself from the elements on the hike. What a great idea for a homeless person who must sleep outdoors! paula

Along with compact umbrellas... tarps are useful against wind and rain- and they also provide shade. So tarps... and ropes... would be useful. As I write this, homeless people in South Africa have no place to go to get out of the rain- and neither do their babies. And, of course, homeless people in every other place where it rains are experiencing the same...

http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/06/09/15/wrapping.love.html

Military insignias for every branch of the armed forces are incorporated when the cloth is being sent to specific branches. Some crafters make them in the shape of angels or incorporate a cross into the design.

Hoar’s group also makes colorful cloth pillow cases for a combat support hospital in Iraq and drawstring bags for helicopter transport of records and X-rays. The military chaplains who receive these also pray over them.

Hoar has made 40 prayer shawls and more than 300 prayer cloths. She has crocheted for 15 years.

“As a group,” she said, “we have made more than 1,500 pocket prayer cloths and sent them to Iraq. And more than 100 shawls have been made for Iraq.”

Sometimes Hoar receives thank-you notes.

“When I put a prayer shawl around me, I can feel the love of my precious Father holding me,” wrote a 73-year-old widow who lives alone and struggles with health problems.

Hoar sent identical prayer cloths to a mother in Wisconsin and a daughter in New York, as a way of keeping them connected.

The mother wrote, “I truly love it and appreciate that you sent one just like it to my daughter. Being so far away is difficult.”

An Army chaplain serving with Operation Iraqi Freedom wrote, “Every gift we have received has helped us endure some catastrophic highs and lows during this war.”

The group has made shawls and cloths for the homeless, for nursing homes and baby nurseries, hospice centers, amputee centers and hospitals, West Virginia churches dealing with the recent coal mine tragedies, and for people living in Israel, England and Australia.

But, said Hoar, “We don’t expect thank-yous. We do this because we love to do it. But when we get thank-yous, it reminds us why we do this.”

Military insignias for every branch of the armed forces are incorporated when the cloth is being sent to specific branches. Some crafters make them in the shape of angels or incorporate a cross into the design.

Hoar’s group also makes colorful cloth pillow cases for a combat support hospital in Iraq and drawstring bags for helicopter transport of records and X-rays. The military chaplains who receive these also pray over them.

Hoar has made 40 prayer shawls and more than 300 prayer cloths. She has crocheted for 15 years.

“As a group,” she said, “we have made more than 1,500 pocket prayer cloths and sent them to Iraq. And more than 100 shawls have been made for Iraq.”

Sometimes Hoar receives thank-you notes.

“When I put a prayer shawl around me, I can feel the love of my precious Father holding me,” wrote a 73-year-old widow who lives alone and struggles with health problems.

Hoar sent identical prayer cloths to a mother in Wisconsin and a daughter in New York, as a way of keeping them connected.

The mother wrote, “I truly love it and appreciate that you sent one just like it to my daughter. Being so far away is difficult.”

An Army chaplain serving with Operation Iraqi Freedom wrote, “Every gift we have received has helped us endure some catastrophic highs and lows during this war.”

The group has made shawls and cloths for the homeless, for nursing homes and baby nurseries, hospice centers, amputee centers and hospitals, West Virginia churches dealing with the recent coal mine tragedies, and for people living in Israel, England and Australia.

But, said Hoar, “We don’t expect thank-yous. We do this because we love to do it. But when we get thank-yous, it reminds us why we do this.”

*fair use*

By Kimberly Orsborn, News Staff Writer
Friday, September 15, 2006  

She said, “The shawl represents Jesus’ arms and our prayers around the person” who receives it. Both shawls and cloths are “something tangible somebody can hold on to,” a way for the recipient to see and feel grace, love, peace and the prayers of others.

The modern-day idea of cloth imbued with prayer comes from the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Their Web site at www.shawlministry.com explains that Janet Bristow and Victoria Galo graduated from the Women’s Leadership Institute at The Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn., and the idea grew out of their participation in the program of applied Feminist Spirituality. Their “prayerful ministry” and spiritual practice, founded in 1998, combines compassion for others with a love of needle arts.

As the crafter begins to make the shawl or cloth, a prayer is said to dedicate the work. Some light a candle or play soft music to enhance the prayerfulness of the process. Knitters use a three-stitch method to symbolize Father, Son and Holy Ghost or faith, hope and love.

Prayers continue as the work progresses. Some crafters, said Hoar, stitch charms or beads to the item. When finished, more prayers are said over it before it is sent to the receiver; some crafters ask their pastor or priest to bless the item. A prayer shawl is never to be sold, although donations to purchase more materials can be accepted by the crafter.

The colors chosen have different meanings: pink for breast cancer, blue for healing, white for a baby being baptized, camouflage or muted colors for soldiers on the front lines.

“There are no rules,” said Hoar, “except to pray.”

Shawls offer comfort and warmth when wrapped around the shoulders and arms of an ill or anxious person. But what if a shawl is not practical, such as while one is in combat in Iraq?

Hoar’s Sending Troops Prayers ministry makes pocket prayer cloths, about 3-by-5 inches (exact sizes don’t matter), in camouflage colors, that soldiers can carry in a pocket or tuck inside a helmet.

for those who can afford it... consider donating an umbrella every so often to a homeless person- UMBRELLAS- the ones that can fold up into a small, compact bundle. I carry around two in my handbag just in case it rains... and if you're homeless, getting soaked to the bone in rain.. life can be damp, chill and dangerous. My husband came home from a bicycle ride in which he got caught in a thunderstorm... he was soaking wet and shivering... and, as always.. my first thought (aside from finding him dry clothes!) was "how would this have been if we'd been homeless?

Nomad Mobile Shelter Bicycle Trailers http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=780&pst=391362&archival=

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2003203773_webtrash16.html Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 12:00 AM Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo, other than personal use, must be obtained from The Seattle Times. Call 206-464-3113 or e-mail resale@seattletimes.com with your request. Air travelers' discards help the homeless in Oregon The Associated Press EUGENE, Ore. — Toiletries discarded at the airport because of new security rules have turned into a boon for the homeless in Eugene. The St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County has started picking up some of the items people have jettisoned for security reasons before they board flights at the Eugene airport. Charley Harvey, assistant executive director of the charity, dug through trash bags Tuesday and took every bottle of shampoo and shaving cream he could find. The items will be distributed at the organization's First Place Family Center. After investigators uncovered a plot in Britain to blow up U.S.-bound aircraft, travelers tossed the items into trash bins in compliance with new security rules prohibiting most liquids, lotions and gels in carry-on luggage. "We're always looking for shampoo, toothpaste and other toiletries to help homeless families," Harvey said. "It usually takes us a week or two to get this much (donated by the public). Hopefully, it's an ongoing windfall." TSA spokeswoman Jennifer Peppin said her agency didn't have a problem with the salvage operation because the toiletries the social service organization picked up were dumped voluntarily into city-owned bins outside of checkpoints and were not seized by authorities. Banned items discovered by federal checkpoint screeners are required to be confiscated and disposed of by a contractor, Peppin said. Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company *fair use*

IMHO, carry restaurant certificates but not fast food ones.
To be acquainted with the unionbusting, genocidal animal slaughter,
and disease generation of fast food is not to want to support the multinational
chains.

http://www.vegdining.com
http://www.mcspotlight.org

Harmony, When I lived at the YWCA, another lady there-an Army veteran-told me about a can opener like these P 38's if not the same thing. She gave me one-just in case I end up homeless. It would be a great thing to have just in case. Thanks for the link. I might even order a few more for those people who must live on the streets & to give to others "just in case" like my friend gave me one. paula

My oh my! We're coming up with lots of great ways to help the homeless! Maybe we'll have another book with at title starting with "101 Ways To..."-lol.  Keep up the good work! I believe I stumbeled across some great links to add to my new thread about links. At least there's one for an Oklahoma City HCA.

paula

The most important thing homeless people need is shelter. Blankets are nice, but towns trash homeless belongings. Accessible lockers to store the bedroll would be great. Every possession of a homeless person has to be carried or stored somewhere. Some homeless people steal from other homeless people, which is really sad. Travel size items (like toothpaste) are lighter than full size tubes, but cost more money. It might be good for an organization to employee the homeless to collect, sort those little plastic bottles that end up, most often, in the trash, then refill them from the large economy size bottles. It is a good idea for organizations to require some sort of work in return for meals and shelter.

Homeless Readers Advocates Activists All** Here is a site where you can buy P-38 can openers a much required survival tool for any one camping, or homeless, or just having in your home when power goes out. http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page52.shtml#p38 Scroll down the page if your a church or non profit homeless coalition you can get special price of 20 cents a piece which is cheap enough to save some ones life. I pass these out to all people who need them,also to shelter providers,and continuum of care providers who many have never seen these before. I took these to a New Hampshire Coalition to Ending Homelessness www.nhceh.org meeting once about 4 years ago and passed out 33 of them,only 3 persons out of the whole coalition knew what they were,and thats because they had been homeless them selves that goes to show you we need to educate even the shelter providers on things beside grant writing. William Charles Tinker New Hampshire Homeless / Founded 11-28-99 25 Granite Street Northfield,N.H. 03276-1640 USA Advocates,activists for disabled,displaced human rights. 1-603-286-2492 newhampshirehomeless-subscribe@topica.com *fair use*

http://www.axcessnews.com/modules/wfsection/article.php?articleid=10126 June 22, 2006 Suit Donations Help Poor, Homeless By Nicholas Beadle (AXcess News) Washington – Michael O'Rourke knows he is one bad decision from spending the rest of his life in a California prison. The 48-year-old can say, without hesitation, that he had scraped bottom in 1986 when he looked at his 6-year-old son after telling him they had to sleep in a park because no apartment would rent to him anymore. But he can also tell you that, years later, someone gave him three dress suits to wear to a job interview so he would not have to wear clothes so old they dissolved in the rinse cycle. That pulled him out of the bottomless pit of crime – California's three-strike law loomed – busted credit and lost loved ones that a spoonful of cocaine pushed him into a quarter century ago. Now an instructor at the Turnkey Construction Management Institute in Los Angeles, O'Rourke told his story at the Capitol PurSuit Drive Wednesday. Sponsored by the American League of Lobbyists and Men's Wearhouse, the event collects "gently-worn" suits from workers on Capitol Hill – lobbyists, members of Congress and staff – for groups that give those outfits to homeless and indigent men and women who need something smart to wear to get a meaningful job. "It's not a handout, it's a hand up," said lobbyist Mark Wenhold, who helped organize the first drive three years ago. Wenhold said the idea of donating old, outgrown or outmoded suits just seemed like it would click in Washington, a town where men and women in business and politics have closets full of nice clothing they no longer wear. His hunch paid off. The first two drives took in 13,000 suits. Wednesday's event tacked on an additional 10,562 outfits, crowding the Rayburn House Office Building foyer with racks upon racks of suits and cardboard boxes loaded with a tightly-packed spectrum of neckties. Ninety percent of the donated suits will be dispersed in the D.C. community, Wenhold said. Nice clothing did not glue O'Rourke's life back together, but it certainly helped, he said. A center for homeless veterans helped him get the classes he needed to teach construction management 18 months ago, but he said he would never have gotten his job without the suits given to him by the Working Wardrobes charity. His children – his son is now 26 and a daughter is 19 – lived with their mother while he was periodically homeless or in jail. He has begun to spend time with his daughter again. O'Rourke said he will soon have enough money to buy a car so he can help Working Wardrobes. He said he still remembers the day he warily slid into a black suit and was shocked when he looked in the mirror. "I looked like a completely different person," he said. "I'll frame it on the wall one day." Source: Scripps Howard Foundation *fair use* Related link: Working Wardrobes http://www.workingwardrobes.org/index.html

May 11, 2006- This idea was inspired by the article today about the 11 year old girl who asked her friends to buy gifts for homeless people instead of for her- and she's talking about doing the same thing at Christmas, also. She and her birthday party guests wound up delivering all the packages of soap, toiletries and socks to the homeless shelter in Huntsville (the Downtown Rescue Mission).

New York's Coalition for the Homeless is located at:

Coalition for the Homeless
129 Fulton Street
New York, NY 10038
212-964-5900

Bottled water is so important! Homeless people are very subject to heat stroke and hypothermia, so water is very important. RE pride-- well, yup, sure can identify having had it while homeless... practical favors from a friend are a god-send! MONEY is a funny thing/flexible thing... the first time I was homeless, I was working (and continued to work) a 30 hr a week job as Administrator of Shipping (the bosses didn't make it 40 hours a week because they didn't want to pay for any health benefits, etc)- anyway, I had enough cash inflow for meals and I was able to rent a mailbox, which helped a LOT. The second time I was homeless, I was also out of work and in a more precarious position. I can't seem to recall panhandling. I'm sure that act would've stuck out in my mind somehow if I had... at times friends just visited and would leave money where I couldn't find it until they'd left... the second time around, the gift of a free VW van which had sat idle on an industrial parking lot was one of THE most crucial elements helping us transition out of homelessness. I've told that story elsewhere, but to be hopefully brief about it.. I had done a favor for my friend YBeth, and when my husband and I reached Santa Cruz and called her, she immediately thought of a friend of hers who had this van. It turned out that all it needed was a new battery!!

pride is something that should be taken in consideration ...My Friend Edna would never take any money from me or others , she had a small amount of money from a pension and would get angry when people offered money..she would not even take food except when she payed for it..So I always asked her if I could help her in any way, and yes ..sometimes she let me watch the her shopping carts full of her belongings...or she asked me to get her a small cooler..or bring  a letter to the post office...in the heat of the summer she let me pick her up and bring her to a small motel for a couple of days to  sleep and wash and watch TV...but she always payed for it ...

http://hunger.stanford.edu/replication_body.html SPOON Replication Resources The Stanford Project on Hunger (SPOON), a hunger awareness and food salvaging student group on the Stanford campus, has started a National Food Salvaging Replication Program (NFSRP). This program has the goal of increasing food salvaging efforts across the country. Food salvaging is the collection of unused food leftovers from eating establisments and events which are then channeled to local hunger relief organizations to meet the hunger needs of community members. Although food service employees work hard to reduce the amount of food wasted, prior to SPOON's existence most leftover food on the Stanford campus was thrown away. Recognizing this waste and the need for food among the homeless in the Palo Alto area, a dedicated group of Stanford students founded SPOON in 1987. This program has been enourmously succesful, at one point helping to serve over 200 meals a week in the local community. However, not all colleges have food salvaging programs. Recognizing that if more schools participated in food salvaging programs, there would be less food waste and less hunger in the United States, SPOON launched the National Food Salvaging Replication Program in 2001. On this website, we have more information on how campuses across the country can start a food salvaging program. Please send an email to spoon@service.stanford.edu for more information. Included on this website are: Food Salvage Program Manual [ Word doc ] http://tinyurl.com/zmmkx How SPOON Operates Video [ QuickTime mov ] http://hunger.stanford.edu/video/spoon.mov Other University Food Salvage Programs http://hunger.stanford.edu/replicationKit/food_salvage_links.html Summary of National and State Laws on Food Salvaging and Good Samaritan Laws http://hunger.stanford.edu/replicationKit/nation_state_law.html Helpful Information on Food Salvaging http://hunger.stanford.edu/replicationKit/more_resources.html

Those are very good ideas!! I especially like the idea about needle and thread- exactly the kind of thing that spare change doesn't cover (in the face of being hungry, for example). Various volunteer programs put together hygiene packets for homeless- why not a little practical tools kit, with: 1)needles, thread 2)safety pins 3)etc!

Links to Other University Food Salvage Programs Stanford Project on Hunger http://hunger.stanford.edu/home.html Brown: http://www.brown.edu/Administration/George_Street_Journal/directory_side.html Harvard: http://hcs.harvard.edu/~fsalvage/whatarewe.html Boston University: http://www.bu.edu/csc/programs/ MIT: http://web.mit.edu/hunger/www/salvage.html U. of Vermont: http://tinyurl.com/njuy9

eh, just thought of that... what about allowing a homeless person to learn something new... (it might have been brought up, but I have to admit that I did not read the whole thread.)

Or you know, to give a drawing book, a journal or some arts material that is easy to carry, and at the same can be used to make and sell some craft.

I know that I would have love for someone to give me a sketching book when I was homeless... and nice pencils and pens would have been a plus too.

Coloring crayons for children.

Needle and thread is also a good idea, it allows one to "fix it" on the spot...

Thanks for that thread, it is beautiful...

I will always give homeless people money or buy them food.Its the least we can do

Bottled water...while living in Florida, Homeless  used to ask me to bring them bottled water...it is good to have some of it with you in a cooler in your car.

About money..everytime so fare when I asked people on the street if they needed money they refused.

And yes, indeed about the loneliness. I feel I came pretty darned close to knowing something of how lepers must feel- the sheer ostracism, isolation, glances of judgement and condemnation from passersby, all of that. By the way, hello from a former Hospice Home Health Aide!

"""The lonliness is profound."""

Dixie

First, a quick relavant introduction:  I am a nurse who ran a drug and alcohol treatment facility on the west side of Manhattan for eleven years.  What to do about homelessness?  Certainly all the 56 items listed above, and one thing more-smile, make eye contact, and ask the homeless person his/her name.  Then, at least for that encounter, they will not be nameless to you or anyone else around who may be listening.  These people are not just houseless, they are homeless.  The lonliness is profound.

The reception food, primarily organically grown, was served on reusable china and eaten with dinnerware that could be washed with biodegradable detergent. Linda West of www.melangeevents.com designed reception buffet menus representing the couple's lives and Christian mission work. The African buffet featured bush chicken and curried grilled vegetables. The Old South buffet offered Carolina pulled pork. The organic produce did drive the food cost up slightly, West says, but a little business bartering by Robinson helped soften the price jump and prevent the couple from compromising their principles. UNEATEN RECEPTION FOOD WAS DELIVERED TO A HOMELESS SHELTER. Guests sent the happy couple off in a flurry of bubbles rather than tossed rice. After a honeymoon in New Zealand eco-lodges, Stephanie and Mark returned to Houston, where she'll keep working as a physical therapist and friendship partner with International Students Inc. He works as a strategic-growth consultant focused on construction and green industries through his company, Momentum Bay, and as a Young Life volunteer. The couple started their new life together just in time for Earth Day. But every day will be earth day at their place as they settle into their light-filled, smoke-free leased home found through a holistic home hunter company. They'll use their energy-saving appliances. They'll shop green. And the couple will enjoy Mark's new garden. It's environmentally friendly — naturally. kathy.huber@chron.com *FAIR USE*

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/3792967.html April 14, 2006, 3:07PM Couple go green at wedding By KATHY HUBER Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle They admit they're sappy romantics. And why not? They were introduced thanks to a friend's prophetic dream. The introduction was via e-mail, but Mark Robinson lived in Houston and Stephanie West in Greensboro, N.C. Five days later, the couple visited four hours on the phone. In a second four-hour chat that followed, West, a 30-year-old physical therapist, and Robinson, a 32-year-old business consultant, began to discover shared interests — a strong faith, a desire to make a social impact, volunteer work with youths and concern for the environment. Intrigued, the couple met face to face, and soon they knew it was love. Six months, six cross-country dates and 13,239 cell phone minutes later, it was love heading toward a faith-based, eco-friendly wedding, an event that proved appropriate for an upcoming Earth Day. West moved to Houston last spring, and the couple continued recording their courtship journey in a bulging datebook. A second book was in the works. In early October, Robinson proposed on a sunrise walk on a foggy lakeside beach near Branson, Mo. The photographer he'd secretly hired walked through the mist to capture the moment Robinson dropped to his knee. The engagement ring? An Apollo diamond, an environmentally friendly, made-to-order cultured stone that sparkles with the brilliance and has the identical chemical makeup of a traditional stone. Man-made diamonds are processed without the wear and tear of mining the earth. With this stone, the couple solidified a joint mission as faith-based stewards of the planet. They wanted a wedding to honor God and reflect their wish to "take care of what we have." "Our story is unique. Our engagement is unique. Our ring is unique. So our wedding should reflect us," Robinson says. "Green is no longer a fad," they say. "It's a force that fits our faith and our pocketbooks." "You end up doing the work anyway," Stephanie says of making wedding plans. "So why not do it in a socially responsible way, an environmentally friendly way?" Wedding costs vary greatly, but many fall in the $18,000-$25,000 range. Cultured diamonds (www.apollodiamond.com), run 15 to 25 percent percent less than mined diamonds, a company representative says. And thanks to West's skill at detailed organization and Robinson's bottom-line know-how, the couple were able to further keep costs down without scrimping on the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception. Through www.weddingchannel.com the couple set up a personal wedding Web site to share their story and post a gift registry that included donations to Habitat for Humanity International. "We registered as creatively and frugally as we could, with long-term use in mind," they say. They will use Stephanie's great-grandmother's china and grandmother's silver, but they did register at www.replacements.com, a company that replaces missing pieces of old china patterns. And they registered for organic linens and eco-friendly household items at www.gaiam.com. Invitations, printed with environmentally friendly ink on recycled paper, announced an April 1 ceremony and reception at Houston's Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church. It was a celebration that embraced sustainability, from the organically grown sunflowers in the bride's bouquet to the organically grown food at the wedding reception. He slipped a band with five small cultured diamonds onto her hand. In the spirit of reusing, she placed his late grandfather's wedding band on his left hand. She wore a gown she'll donate to www.idofoundation.org to be sold to raise funds for charity. He and his groomsmen wore used tuxedos. Stephanie gave her bridesmaids natural products from Burt's Bees, and Mark gave organic-cotton handkerchiefs from www.hankettes.com to his groomsmen. The couple gave all guests packets of Texas wildflower seed to sow in their home gardens. Sunflowers set a cheery theme. Stephanie, who spent her childhood in Kansas, the Sunflower State, carried a blue-and-yellow cornflower bouquet with six organically grown sunflowers, eight organically grown roses, star of Bethlehem and agapanthus. "The sunflower is one of my favorite flowers," she says. "They are happy flowers, and they're phototropic; they turn with the sun. As a Christian, I turn and follow God's Son, so the flowers are meaningful to me on a deeper level." The couple had hoped for potted sunflowers, grown by a local wholesale nursery, to be used at the ceremony and reception. But nature didn't cooperate, the buds didn't set, and Brenda Epstein of Flowers by Brenda placed a rush order from an organic grower to ship 130 large- and small-flowered stems. Organic blooms were important because they are grown without environmentally harmful chemicals. This tacked an extra $1.50 per stem onto the normal $1.50-$1.69 per stem cost, Epstein says. Even so, the bridal bouquet was a bit more than $100, the low end of typical bouquet costs, which vary from $50 to $1,000, Epstein says, depending on the blooms and the designer. Cut sunflowers inserted into colorful pots and used as reception decorations were delivered to a women's shelter after the reception. Permanent florals from Distinctive Designs, Mark's former employer, were used for church altar sprays. And donated cowboy hats served as centerpieces at the post-rehearsal barbecue dinner. To save gasoline and time driving elsewhere, the newlyweds and 220 guests walked across the church grounds to a prereception mixer featuring fruits and cheese from Sandy's Market, a supporter of local farmers. (more)

http://tinyurl.com/ozfbw The issue of homelessness is so huge, it can seem overwhelming. This page lists some of the many, simple ways YOU can help end homelessness. We hope you will find something that interests you. Maybe this list will inspire to think of your own ways to help end homelessness... * Find out what your local shelter needs and donate items. * Tutor a homeless child. * Donate money to a local shelter, housing or homelessness prevention program. * Ask your state legislators to support funding for homelessness and affordable housing programs. *Ask your local government what they are doing about affordable housing. *Volunteer in a service agency. * De-objectify homeless people. They are not "the homeless" but people who do not have a stable place to live. * Meet and get to know someone who is without a home. * Buy products made or sold by people without housing. * Act politically: write a politician, cast an informed ballot. * Educate yourself about what causes the loss of housing, especially in this community. * Reflect on your own situation, "Do I have resources to cover my rent or mortgage in the event of illness, an accident, or the loss of a loved one?" * Give a donation to a homeless housing program in your community. *fair use*

Caps For Kids http://craftyarncouncil.com/caps.html "Providing needy children with cozy hats to keep them warm is what Caps for Kids is all about. Nearly one million caps, along with other children's accessories, have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers since the program began. The hats are given to non-profit, non denominational agencies in the communities of the donors. By January 2005, a data base of stores across the country that collect and distribute Caps for Kids will also be available. In the interim, caps can be mailed to the following address for distribution to children's charities: Caps for Kids 2500 Lowell Rd. Ranlo, NC 28054 To help you get started the following cap patterns are provided courtesy of Caps for Kids. One is specially sized to fit smaller premature babies; the second, is a basic children's cap."

Homeless Helper links Links > Home Made Stoves http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/links/ The G. LaMar Kirby Stove http://wings.interfree.it/html/GLKirby.html . Convex top Coke stove http://marquardts.org/mindspring/can/index.htm .. HOBO Stoves http://wings.interfree.it/html/hobostv.html HomeMade Stoves http://www.kruegerservices.com/fritz/osp/ . Making your own Camp Stove http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~hollin/index.html?page=gear/camp_stove.html . Stoves http://zenstoves.net/ . Stoves http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/message/128 THE HOME-MADE STOVE ARCHIVES http://wings.interfree.it/html/main.html .. Name r BackPack http://rodneyslab.tripod.com/ . HomeMade BackPacks http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/message/133 .. Links > Tent Making r A HOMEMADE TARPTENT http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html . Offline HALUK'S ARCTIC TENT PAGE http://arctictent.8m.net/index.html Haluk's Arctic Tent http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html Henry's 18 oz. & 24 oz. Tarptent © http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html Lean-To http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html MAKE YOUR OWN VESTIBULE http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html Make tent out of plastic http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/message/131 . Simple A fram tarp tent http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html Add Link | Add Folder Links > Sleeping Bags .E.T.C. 17 Degree bag http://www.newsushi.net/quilt.html .. 17 Degree bag http://www.newsushi.net/quilt.html .. HomeMade BackPacks http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/message/133 .. t Homemade Sleeping Bag http://www.backpacking.net/makegear/jeff-bag/ . MAKING YOUR OWN GEAR http://www.knowledgehound.com/topics/hikecamp.htm#making .. Make Your Bag http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Christians_helping_homeless/message/129 . Ugly Quilts http://www.reese.org/sharon/uglyinst.htm

"Much more can be done. The homeless do not have the money for IDs ($10), monthly bus passes ($32) to travel to Social Security, the Department of Children & Families, etc., birth certificates ($17), and other necessities. They have no place to shower, secure their meager possessions or find a safe place to rest their heads." I am so glad I had my ID, Driver's License, and birth certificates when I was homeless!! Not having these would make everything just that much more complicated. Surely some practical help/donations could be organized to help homeless people with this!! - and I would like to add this to the 54 ways to help homeless people, too. Much More can be done for homeless http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=780&pst=253468

Join a points program... like My Points.. http:/www.mypoints.com

And Redeem it for food certificates you can hand out to the homeless.

.. If you have a good paying job yourself..

Offer them a way to earn money from you..

To get themselves a UPS store mailbox..

I got a ride into town from one of my sisters today.. and this is the prices I got, for a private mailbox.

1 to 2 personal (husband and wife only) 3 months is 39 dollars, 6 months is 69 dollars, and 1 year is 108 dollars. Boxes are available 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week... they offer mailforwarding too but you have to ask them for details on that. .. you can also use the call in mailcheck.. This is for a Street Address, with a PMB number.... and not a P. O. Box.

2-5 people for a business is 60 dollars - 3 mopnths 108$ for 6 months, and 168$ got a year. Probably if you are business or corporate you would want to go with a P. O. Box it is cheaper.

.. oh yeah its a 10 dollar set up fee, and 10 dollar fee per person. So they are expensive.. but I figured that would be better for a person if they ended up hopping places around town alot.

This is what the prices are in Janesville, Wisconsin It maybe different in other places..

So you could have a homeless person do 108 dollars worth of work for you, so they can earn a mailbox, and a prepaid cell phone I am not sure how much that is.. But you could help them earn one of those was well. Then in between helping you out. They will have a mailbox, and a cellphone for job hunting... and others could buy them phone minutes to use between them to keep in touch.

It all depends on the laws of how much a person can earn.. without being taxed. In Wisconsin an individual can accept or earn 200 dollars a month. So if you are really crafty and conservative. You could learn to live off of that amount.. at certain times of the year... between your actual paying job earnings. I'd recommend the mailbox and cellphone, if you can afford that.. then after you pay a yearly mailbox if you earn 200 more.. the next month you will have freed up 100 some for food.. .. and I then recommend seeing about Possible Storage... For any belongings, so you will not have to tote belongings everywhere you go...

I am looking for ways for a homeless person to support themselves without government help. I would love to see a society come up with its own help and solutions.. so if taxes are cut people are not left with cutbacks... and also solutions to help them get work references for applying.

- Dana L.

It seems weird when I say them, as I am losing my home at the end of the month. I may stay with my parents temporarily before hopping friends houses, as I job hunt...

This site has been extremely valuable to me in information and preparation. Thanks!

Just a little note. I used the transsexual example, because where I am. The community is extremely homophobic, and I am a f - m trans.

Just to clarify that example. I should have worded it.. If a person is not comfortable or fitting in. Help them to find a place where they will be more safe, comfortable, and will fit in.

Oh gotta add one now..

Help the Homeless make many friends who are also non homeless..Invite them out to have fun once in awhile, and the ones you know who can not improve their situation if you are capable, and have the resources, consider adopting them as a family member... With the State, and Country cutting programs of help, and trying to force them to remain independant on them it is harder and hard to become free. You could offer them simple jobs to do in exchange for being with you.. Like lets say you own a crafts shop.. and you do alot of beadwork but you seem to never have enough time to sort beads. You could offer some pay, for someone to sort beads, for awhile... in exchange to learn the craft from you. ..

Create a new job catagory no one ever hard of.. Like.. Hey find jobs no one likes to do but would do if they could earn something from it.

Lets say your family hates sorting recycling.. Get all your family members together offer someone you know who can not hold a regular job money to do the chores the family hates.. .. like maybe Start a cleaning service business...

These maybe bad ideas. But I am trying .

- Dana C. L.

"DNatureofDTrain"

Help them find jobs!. If you get to know them, their interests and job qualifications help them get into work.

Here is a job for any homeless that has a phone service somehow maybe interested in. The company may help out with that as well.

http://www.geocities.com/dnatureofdtrain/referal.html

That is my referal page on how to get more information..

Start a pop/soda can collection program, where the homeless can walk around together as a group collection cans, and all divide the cents between eachother equally. Get involved in recycling programs that offer pay like that.

Have special areas within your company that look for the homeless to hire them. Maybe I can talk myself into an official job, into trying to find homeless to hire into the entertainment industry...

We'll see, what goes on from here out.

Offer areas of your property, for the homless community to grow food, or grow more food then you need in your garden and donate it to a shelter or group you see on the streets. Instead of tossing out old clothes, give them away.. to help them out.

Even if you think no one would like them. The homeless who are crafty maybe able to make Rag rugs..

Help people learn how to manage and create their own small business and to network together.

Take part in volunteer transportation programs,

Learn about Wild Native Edibles..

Like Dandelions, and Clovers keep your property pesticide free, and allow an area for homeless to come and harvest off your land.

Buy a campground operate a section for free, operate a section for pay, and teach homeless how to run the vendors there... and sell arts and crafts.. etc.

Help them find products with good quality. That are not just being cheap or expensive, but being a real product that will last.

Help them find the education they need and plan the goals and steps to acheive and suit their needs.

Teach good habits, to those who struggle but do not force them into a lifestyle they are not comfortable with. Example: If a homeless woman or a man is a transsexual, or would do better in a different type of society help them get there, to where they would be helped and more comfortable.

Listen.. Get them to talk.. Help them get involved in referal programs.. Like for instance... They come to you.. needing help and offer you help.. You write down their name, and address.. (or mailbox) Then give them your business card with their name written on the back. They hang onto the card and if someone mentions along the line of looking for a service like you. They hand them the card to give to you. They earn a certain commision on the sales, or a couple of dollars for them stopping in. However, you decide to do it. A couple of dollars may not seem like much... to us but it is a big difference that way..

Do a Sponsorship program where you will do your services for free.. with advertising of sponsors...

Could start a program like the click to donate.. but instead of clicks taking wooden circles or something and putting them into a box with a picture of sponsors..

I hope these are all good ideas,

- Dana C. L.

"DNatureofDTrain"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/2593781.stm Friday, 20 December, 2002, 14:14 GMT Mobile help for the homeless Thousands of people may be sleeping rough on the streets of Wales this Christmas, but at least the homeless in Cardiff can look forward to some comfort in the new year. A double decker bus has been turned into a mobile cafe, medical centre and advice unit, and will take to the streets in January 2003. Figures released on Friday have revealed a 25% increase in homelessness in Wales. Staff working with rough sleepers in the capital say hostels are full to capacity and as many as 25 people will have no choice but to sleep on the streets this year. Six weeks ago, organisations involved with the homeless became aware of an urgent need for outreach facilities in the city. Cardif Bus donated a double-decker and, with the help of funding from community support schemes, it was kitted out with a kitchen and café area, toilet, rest area, and treatment and consultation room. Mobile resource The bus will be used as a mobile resource for rough sleepers, particulary for those who may not be able to get into hostels. At night, the homeless - some of whom may be at risk of hypothermia or victimisation - can visit the bus for a rest, food and help. During the day, the bus will fulfil a drop-in centre role, providing a link to health, counselling, and other services. Commitment Community organisation Safer Cardiff is overseeing the conversion of the vehicle, and other partners supporting the project include Cardiff County Council, British Transport Police, the Big Issue, the Salvation Army, CRISIS, Wales and Borders trains, NCP and APCOA. Lord Mayor Russell Goodway said the project confirmed the city's commitment to looking after all sectors of the population. Meanwhile, the homeless charity Shelter are preparing for a flood of emergency calls during the Christmas period. Most of the calls for help at this time of year come from rough sleepers trying to find somewhere to stay for Christmas. But Shelter says an increasing number of people find themselves homeless following domestic disputes during the festive period. Last Christmas 200 of the 1,000 emergency calls to Shelter's 24-hour free helpline came from families with children - a 30% rise on the previous year. Anyone with a housing problem this Christmas should call Shelterline on 0808 800 4444. *fair use*

For those of us who use gmail and who have plenty of invitations left to send out... why not offer to send a homeless person with another email address with more limited space a far bigger storage system with gmail? for example, I now have 100 available invitations to send out. My offer extends only to homeless people. Any homeless person interested in having me send them an invitation, email me at: harmonykieding@gmail.com (invitations free, of course) (as is gmail)

I saw some wonderfully compassionate and giving ideas listed here. What seems to be missing on this list is how to help end the cycle of homelessness. To that end I have some ideas to keep this list going, and going, and going.  Donate your skills, your experience, your education, your talents and your know-how. So much of the homeless population just doesn't possess the life skills needed to get on their feet and stay there. So many communities don't have the resources or the funding to reach everyone or provide these vital independant living skills so desperatly needed to reach success and end poverty and homelessness. So, teach them what you know, whatever it is. If it's how to interview at a job, go for it. If it's how to read nutrition labels at the grocery store, why not?  Get down to the basics,  help someone shop and cook on a food stamp or food bank budget, sewing, painting, helping them get connected to local resources, entitlement benefits, be an advocate, empower them to speak up and out for themselves, help them find free classes in their community for financial literacy, take them along with you when you march on your capitals and ask them to speak to their representatives about the urgent need for affordable housing and supprtive services for the homeless and extremely low-income, encourage them to vote and register to vote, give them a ride to the dentist or the doctor's office, or to go see their family, help them learn a simple trade that they can use to make money from at the local street fairs and markets, jewelry making, for example, face painting or baking, henna art or anything they are interested in and that you can teach them. There are a zillion more ideas out there just waiting to be used!    

Peace in the New Year!

Wendy

 

That's a great idea! I can't imagine someone not going for it- rather mystifying, isn't it- did you give them a link to your group? or...? I've emailed different non-profit groups from time to time who do not have websites, volunteering to make them a free website. Evidently this was just too suspicious an act on my part...(color me puzzled)... what's this world come to, when offers of free help are just seen as dark and twisted... or..?

I sent the Jesus House an email about a week ago asking JH to reccomend one (or couple, even open to small child) of their clients to trade out room & board (handyman)
for some help around the house...I thought I would hear something back from them within days...I just can't imagine their not having any clients interested in this...

---

Well done! (and kudos, also, to Donna of Homeless Community Aid (HCA)- I've just joined your group- and will post its link on the front page of this group, too- as I've done with Homeless Community Aid (HCA) and San Antonio Homeless Community Aid. I think this is a fantastic and practical way to harnass local resources and motivate community action for change.

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/OKCHCA

I just started this group to connect to your group & HCA...Are there any RSS feeds or links you would like to add?

This is something i have OFTEN done in my online homeless advocate/activism work: For those who have built their own websites and who know HTML, donate your time and skill to build a webpage for a homeless person, homeless advocate or non-profit organization which helps the homeless, but which is too tight on funds to have its own web-page on the Internet. There are still a number of FREE webhosts on the Internet and FREE email providers. So one can; 1) set up a page for any homeless person/family in which they tell as much of their situation as they feel comforatble, 2)establish a contact page or at least have a free email address to contact on the webpage 3) Make sure that local info is available about free internet access via libraries, etc.

What a wonderful wealth of information! Truthfully, the issue about tampons really made so much sense to me!  These are such helpful ideas!  Thanks to all!  

Seattle Emergency Housing Service http://www.emergencyhousing.org/vehicle_donations.html Tax laws change in 2005, take advantage now... Donate your car to charity by December 31 rather than wait until 2005 to take advantage of the current tax law. Congress toughened the rules for vehicle donations starting next year. Insead of deducting the BLue Book value or appraisal for cars valued at $5,000 or more, you get only what the charity actually receives for the car - an amount that could be less than the fair market value. SEHS has received over 6,000 calls from individuals all over the Puget Sound area who have expressed an interest in donating their vehicle. Most of the callers complete the necessary paperwork, earning SEHS over $ 200,000 since July 1, 2002. To donate your used car, van, truck, trailer, RV, motorcycle or boat (running or not), simply fill out our vehicle donation form. SEHS will make all the arrangements to pick-up your vehicle donation at no cost to you. With the donation, you may receive the full fair market value as a tax deduction if you itemize your taxes. It is to these supporters and others that we credit our ability to enhance our current programs and increase our staff to meet the needs of the homeless families we serve -- Thanks! Frequenly Asked Questions What can I donate? Cars, boats. If you have any questions about what you can donate, contact us at (206) 461-4861 Is my donation tax deductible? YWCA Seattle Emergency Housing is a 501c3 tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible. Since all situations are different, please check with your tax professional to determine how you will benefit. What do I need to do to donate my vehicle? We would like the title to the vehicle. If you do not have the title, please contact us through either our Web form or our contact number and other arrangements can usually be made. My vehicle doesn't run. Can I still donate? Yes, depending upon the kind of vehicle, the age, and what the problem is. We do not accept vehicles that were manufactured before 1985. Please call us for further information. How will my vehicle be picked up? After we have your title, we will arrange to tow your car, boat and trailer, truck, or motorcycle. How long will it take to pick up my vehicle? We can usually pick it up in a week. Occasionally, we can make other arrangements. Where do you pick up vehicles? We can pick up vehicles throughout most of the Puget Sound area. How is the value of my vehicle determined? You determine the fair market value of your donation. Please refer to the IRS Publication 561, which sets forth the manner in which the IRS requires you to determine the value of your donated property. You can review this publication on the IRS web site. If your donation is worth more than $5,000 you will need an appraisal for tax purposes. We can arrange to have your vehicle valued by an independent appraiser. How can I contact you to schedule a pick up? You can either fill out our online vehicle donation form. Or call us at: Ph: (206) 461-4861 Fax: (206) 461-4860 Attn: Joseph Grant or e-mail: jgrant@ywcaworks.org How does my donation help homeless families? SEHS arranges with an auction company to sell your donation on our behalf. The funds that we receive from your donation, and the donation of vehicles and boats from other contributors, help to pay the costs of the housing and services that we provide to homeless families in our program. To ensure this, SEHS maintains a system of internal controls and regular auditing procedures for all donations, including your automobile or boat. What about the seller's Report of Sale? You can review the publication on the Washington State Department of Licensing web site. Or call (360) 902-3770 Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific Time). *fair use*

Good ideas, Tanya and George!

I have found the best way my church can help is by asking for something in return, Most reascent was 2 men looking to return to Calif from Hot Springs Ark. I offered to purchase there tickets if they would do odd jobs at the church for one week. they gladley acceptrd and I was glad to give a hand up rather than a hand out

go in and spend a day helping a shelter to clean and organize the donations they've received so those in need can easily find clean clothes, household items, etc.

1) Quit criminalizing them 2)Stop NIMBYISM 3)Stop declaring their existence to be illegal 4)Enact Universal Health Care 5) Enact fair, just wages 6)Build more affordable housing

http://www.2online.com/x5154.xml?ParentPageID=x5157&ContentID=x67193&Layout=KBCI.xsl&AdGroupID=x5154

By Kiersten Throndsen

BOISE -

Good deals were found outside of K-mart today and proceeds will benefit some Treasure Valley youths without a place to call home

Organizers of the "parking lot garage sale" say there is not enough foster care for children taken out of homes because of abuse and neglect.  So with the help of donations from the community they organized a "parking lot garage sale."

Eventually they hope to raise enough money to build homes that will not be considered orphanages.

"We don't have orphanages in the United States, it's all foster care and foster care is failing. The anticipation of it succeeding isn't working," said Becky Anderson, President of Crossroads Children's Homes.  

By the end of the sale they raised two thousand dollars.  Their goal was to raise only one thousand.  Wal-Mart says they will double today's proceeds. 

It's good to see people like you around nowadays!Back when i was homeless,there was no one to help,except  maybe to go to some really bad shelters,where the conditions were worse than living in my car.

WHETHER YOU ARE ATHEISTS OR NOT OR WICCKA OR IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER:::::::::::::::

Churches help the homeless a lot, then in many different ways.

Bus tickets, food, clothes vouchers, rides, a monetary step up for housing... endless:::::::::::::::

From The Pulpit

By John Frazier

The last couple of weeks the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me to preach about "desperate faith." I feel led to write about the subject again.

I am convinced that many of us if not most all of us never come to God (Jesus the Christ) unless we are desperate. To be desperate means to be without hope. Please tell me, how can we with all of our heart come to a God that we cannot see (He is invisible) unless we are desperate?

There is much desperation in Butte County. Here in Oroville look at the number of people that are walking the streets penniless and homeless. Desperation.

How many of you that are reading this column right now have such heavy financial concerns that you are nearly ready to crumble under the load? Desperation.

How many of you find it that it is impossible to have a happy marriage? Desperation.

How many of you are so depressed that suicide seems to be a very real possibility? Desperation.

How many of you have had a very close loved one die recently and the grief is unbearable? Desperation.

How about the man or woman that has been diagnosed with an... incurable disease? Perhaps the doctor has told you that you have cancer. Just this week a doctor told you that you are going to have to have a limb (arm or leg) amputated because you have diabetes. Desperation.

What about the dream that you had two nights ago, actually it was a nightmare and you woke up in the middle of the night screaming with fear. Desperation.

If you are desperate, you are in a perfect situation to call out to God for help.

Desperation leaves us without hope. When we lose all hope that is the time that we are more apt to reach out to the one that has all hope. He does not just have hope, He has help. But, you say "God helps them that helps themselves." Wrong. It does not say anywhere in the Bible that: "God helps them that helps themselves." Jesus the Christ, (I believe, very loudly speaks the following words in Matthew 11:28 "Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Jesus the Christ specialized in going to those who had no hope. Since Jesus the Christ never changes, He specializes in reaching out to the hopeless people today just like He did when He walked the shores of the sea of Galilee.

May 23, 1991. I suddenly lost my balance in the living room. I was on my feet but I was staggering all over the room and running into walls. I was rushed to the emergency room of the hospital. X-rays showed that I had suffered a brain hemorrhage. The entire right side of my body was paralyzed. I had no hope in the natural, at least as far as I was concerned. Thirty-three days later I walked out of the hospital room on my own. Thank God for the hospital and doctors, but, Jesus the Christ was and still today is my healer.

Please allow me to share a very important truth with you. Jesus the Christ is the only real hope or help in this whole world. We need to be desperate for Him. Desperation means that all hope is gone. Sometimes we need to become hopeless to become desperate, but when we become desperate that is the time to call out to Him for help.

Desperate faith is the requirement to get the attention of God.

Mark 5:2-5 tells about a man that lived among tombs. It was a graveyard. This man was possessed by "an unclean spirits."

This man had unnatural, supernatural strength. Chains and shackles were put on him to keep him under control. He would break them with his superhuman strength. He would run in the mountains and in the tombs crying out and cutting himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, what have I to do with you, Jesus, son of the most high God? I implore you by God that you do not torment me.'

Jesus said to him: "Come out of the man, unclean spirit. What is your name?" His name was "Legion." The demon was forced to leave the man. The man lived a normal life from then on.

Jesus is available to touch and deliver you if you are in the clutches of a demon. Today Jesus the Christ is available for your desperate condition. Jesus the Christ is the only one to call out to when you are truly desperate.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

John Frazier is pastor of Temple of Praise Church and is available for counseling and help in these areas. Cell number is 370-7516. 

Dixie

I've decided to open up separate threads for each of the 54 ways so that we can explore these in more detail

awesome!

Sandra, thank you so much for these resource links! Most helpful!!!

` The Resources from 54 Ways http://home.golden.net/~msavage/ootc/54ways/IX.html which have links: American Affordable Housing Institute P.O. Box 118 New Brunswick, NJ 08903 http://policy.rutgers.edu/eah/aahi.html Coalition for the Homeless 500 Eight Avenue New York, NY 10018 212-695-8700 http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/home/index.html The Coalition for the Homeless Resource Guide provides comprehensive information about more than 2,000 services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers—from shelter to housing, from soup kitchens to job training programs. http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/resources/resource_guide.html Many links to online resources for advocacy and public policy organizations, government agencies, elected officials, and news organizations at: http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/resources/links.html Common Cents New York, Inc. 500 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 212-736-6437 http://www.commoncents.org/ Community for Creative Non-violence 425 Second Street, NW Washington, D.C. 20001 202-393-4409 http://users.erols.com/ccnv/ Dayspring Center 1537 N. Central Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-635-6785 http://www.dayspringindy.org/ Enterprise Foundation 505 American City Building Columbia, MD 21044 301-964-1230 http://www.enterprisefoundation.org/ The Ford Foundation 320 East 43 Street New York, NY 10017 http://www.fordfound.org/ Friends Committee on National Legislation 245 Second Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20002-5795 http://www.fcnl.org/ Goddard-Riverside Community Center 593 Columbia Avenue New York, NY 10024 212-873-6600 http://www.goddard.org/ (to be continued...)

4. Buy This Book http://home.golden.net/~msavage/ootc/54ways/4.html http://home.golden.net/~msavage/ootc/54ways/overview.html has links to detailed descriptions of the following by clicking on the specific topic: (how to read this hyper-book) Introduction Part I. Learn About the Homeless Part II. What To Do When Confronted by the Homeless Part III. Give to the Homeless Part IV. Volunteer to help the Homeless Part V. Get Others Involved Part VI. What Children Can Do Part VII. Really Make a Commitment Part VIII. Help To End Homelessness Part IX. Resources The link you provided has links to the details of the 53 Ways, http://www.tinman.org/sue/articles/54WaysYouCanHelpTheHomeless.html

i have also recently been asked to design a brochure for the local homeless shelter in middletown (not the one i used to work at, but the one my church has an on-going relationship with), so i am really psyched about that.

i'll get to do something i love and have my training in to help the shelter, and the brochure will be used to in fundraising & partnership campaigns for the shelter.

please keep me in prayer that i am able to produce a product they are pleased with and that will help them in their mission. this is an awesome shelter, but need a lot of help ... as they all do, don't they?

to be able to open a shelter with individual rooms/apartments like dixie outlined! that would be awesome.

i just don't have the money to do it. maybe when my daughter is older, i can look at getting sponsorship to do something around here like that.

wouldn't it be awesome if all 227 members on this group did that in their area?! how much we could do!

....would that some NON-profit, or freely maintained by the city or whoever were to build simple ....

8X10...toilet, shower, twin size bed (built in), cabinet with lock capabilities (built in) each with - fronted doors with maintained locks, of course these are not for the rest of your life SPACES FOR RACES OF HOMELESS... but they could be a resting place!

20 units to 2/washers, 2/dryers... yep FREE. Client has to provide his own soaps!

THIS IS TOOOOOO SIMPLE TO ANYONE TO BUILD FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE - OF COURSE IT IS A BARE MINIMUM, BUT THE BARE MINIMUMS ARE FREAKING ILLEGAL EVERYWHERE YOU ARE HOMELESS.  MAKE IT HAPPEN, LET SOMETHING BE FREE BECAUSE WE WANT TO HELP.

No where to sit, no where to GET to stay when you have stomach problems, it is an all day trek until it is time to be locked up in homeless facilities, with homeless germs, not enough homeless toilets, never ever a clean shower space, stupid rules for washing when you need to, not when you have an appointment when your time slot is drawn!?!?!?

Whoa ... there I went again!

I am outta here!

Dixie

Hi, Dixie! Re sanitary products and being a woman and being homeless- this is one of those topics that reveal the very nitty-grittyness of how it feels to be homeless. When I was broke and did not have enough for the very expensive store-bought sanitary products, I learned how to "roll my own", so to speak, from clean white toilet paper that was folded enough times and then rolled into a tube. I was always very careful to wash my hands extremely well- infections not wanted!! This topic sure brings it all back- oh how I used to long for some sort of sanctuary with toilets, showers, washing machines- a couch to rest on to make up for the sleep that never comes easy on a sidewalk...

Hi Tanya, What a great idea- printing out the 54 list (including your idea for number 4!) and handing it out at your church. So many of us live so close to the edge these days and feel so powerless and don't know where to begin to help others- it helps to be given a list of suggestions! That way everyone can pick out what they feel guided to do at a level they can carry it out Bravo!

I am grateful not to have my period every month, but I use sanitary products... (very small amount I do but, this is not the INCONTINENCE GROUP !!!)

I take as many as I have left over that have not been opened to the homeless facilities, I try to give them to women I have seen before, so that the facilities (Salvation Army, will not hord them or not even give them out at times, thats another story)

I receive certain products from a program I am on.  these women are so happy to have these products, it is expensive in stores - especially when you have NO money.

I do have one of those... folding chairs in a bag, I have a plastic shopping bag with sanitary help along with a chair...I will be downtown someday this week!!

You know a lot of women use different products, that are never given out, or stumbled upon in homeless facilities, even NAIR, instead of trying to shave with those OTC,

...over the counter of a homeless facility - these things are sold in bulk to institutional facilities whether they are a prison or a homeless facility !???  E-magine that!

Packets of wet wipes (oops that might be listed above)

I dare - weallofus - to add another item to this list in keeping on the "top" - hopefully some of these things will help someone going homeless.  

Through out this entire group are endless amounts of information for legal endeavors.

Dixie

we are doing an awesome outreach project through my church that i'm helping to organize at our local homeless shelter.

i am going to print off the '54' list you provided in this thread and give it to all the congregation members who sign up to help at our five confirmed dates over the next 3 months. (we also have two additional dates confirmed at the local ywca with their program that helps get mentally ill homeless women back on their feet in society.)

anyway, since #4 is missing from the list, maybe we could make up our own. how about "love the homeless as Christ loves them."?

thanks again, harmony, for all you do for us and the homeless around the world by keeping us educated in this group! God bless you for that! 

folding chairs sound brilliant, Dixie! Wish I could've had some when I was homeless... if I had to do it again (Heaven forfend) I would buy a shopping cart on wheels, too.. over here in Norway they have upright bags on wheels and a long handle to pull it with.. they can fit a lot of belongings.

I was reading some of the other articles on here..

remembering the tired worn out of walking walking ...'not allowed to sit' there if you don't buy something always never a place to rest weary bones of homeless-ness. There is a spring or summer after this cld winter recedes!

The dollar stores have those cheap (enough) chairs that fold into a bag...with a shoulder strap.

I am writing it on my budget list... then I will do my best to buy 1 (maybe 2) each month to give to a known homeless person. 

Yep, I know some do sell their own 'wares'...for this or that... but ya know what!? It is usually to another homeless person!!! Gotcha!

I am

Dixie

Hi Dixie B. It's great what Lisa did, coming out of homelessness and starting her own Hope Chest charity there in Austin. Personally, I'm partial to the self-help model or "do for self" as we say here in Portland's Dignity Village. We all got fed up with doorway dwelling and started our own Out of the Doorways campaign which eventually led to a tent city and which, at this point in time four years down the road, has the largest collection of eco-friendly, cobb housing in the Pacific Northwest! We get awards, too, and the great reward of helping ourselves and each other. What we do benefits ourselves and the wider homeless community and ultimately all of Portland. No one's turned away who comes to us and although we can only legally house sixty people, we hand out many cups of coffee or jackets or showers or tents and share the food we're blessed with. We provide phones and an address to access mail, computer access, medical and veterinary clinics through our partnerships in the wider community. Like Lisa, we're donated so many things that everything we don't use, we make sure gets out to those in our community who need them as part of our donations department's outreach. I like Harmony's list but would have add "build a tent city" to it. Blessings and light! Jack.

there is a Lisa Hope Chest in Austin Texas She was finally sponsered after many years of caring in the Austin Womens Business. Lisa was homeless. She got a job, then she started giving out donated clothes from the trunk of her car. Her small charity grew into an uptars of a now building that is open on off hours to off set her own time. But she also receives awards, rewards, donated money, to keep her utilities on for the homeless who don't have... from shoes to underwear, men, women, children. Lisa's story is in credible...but I thoughtI would add this in case there is someone capable of using a garage or a part of their own shop...you then become your own charity. Dixie

Please always make sure you give your donations to the homeless to a very known homeless or other small groups who help life Loafs and Fishes we have in Austin Texas who drive up to the area near the Salvation Army they give out food, socks shirts, food snacks, sandwiches,juice,milk fruit...then at 7pm the people who are able go into the Salvation Army the doors are locked up. There are street people that can benefit from all the above and more just like Harmony stated...blankets...the best idea i read then maybe can expound on, the food certificates...well drugstores give out some need prescription money...that would help. There is not anything we can do but hold feeling in our hearts for the self esteem we do not see in these people or the ones who ask or beg...I assure anyone who reads this...I may not like the dysfunktional household in caring for disabled parents or living with a totally addicted on drugs sibling...this 4 bedroom house is better than the street. In Texas there are terrible resources... I have had the opportunity to be in another state (I was being abused my a man just a few short years ago...) I was having a tooth pulled and a stranger in a strange state...I began to cry because I didnt know where to go ... before I left that dentist office were handfuls of phone numbers places for me to go...it was a miracle, I know miracles! I love you guys...in this case I am one who knows one! (((...takes one to know one))) Dixie

While surfing the net trying to find a site that still had "54 Ways" up, I came across a couple of sites that said "Never give money to the homeless". My response to that is "Use your best judgement!" Not all homeless people are into drugs and alcohol, as the stereotypes would have you believe. Granted, some ARE. However, there are a lot of folks out on the street due to other circumstances, such sickness, an accident, a missing paycheck and hence a missed rent check resulting in eviction. Or else domestic troubles and an abusive partner or parent. My point is this: that sometimes a homeless person needs to go into a store, just like any other person, and buy toothpaste, or toilet paper, or shampoo, or baby wipes (given the usual lack of shower facilities). Or maybe they need to buy stamps, or envelopes, or vitamins. And there are many more homeless families with children, so a gift of money may very well be the most useful. As I said, use your intuition and your best judgement. There are times to give, and times not to give.

54 Ways to Help the Homeless http://www.tinman.org/sue/articles/54WaysYouCanHelpTheHomeless.html 1. Understand who the homeless are 2. Educate yourself about the homeless 3. Respect the homeless as individuals 4. (missing from list!!) 5. Respond with kindess 6. Carry fast-food certificates 7. Develop lists of shelters 8. Buy Street News 9. Bring food 10. Give money 11. Give recyclables 12. Give proceeds from a craft sale 13. Give clothing 14. Give a bag of groceries 15. Give toys 16. Give welcome kits 17. Give a portion of party expenses 18. Give this book 19. Volunteer at a shelter 20. Volunteer at a soup kitchen 21. Volunteer your professional talents 22. Volunteer your hobbies 23. Volunteer for follow up programs 24. Tutor homeless children 25. Take homeless children on trips 26. Bring a meal to the homeless 27. Organize a thrift shop 28. Volunteer at battered women's shelters 29. Volunteer job training 30. Teach about the homeless 31. Publish shelter information 32. Enlist community organizations as advocates 33. Educate your children about the homeless 34. Sign up your company/school 34. Recruit local businesses 36. Ask your clergy to help 37. Suggest your congregation offer tithes 38. Create lists of needed donations 39. Teach their friends 40. Collect toys and games for donations 41. Prepare food and gifts 42. Donate admissions fees from an event 43. Use birthday parties to help 44. Play with children in a shelter 45. Start a Second Harvest program 46. Employ the homeless 47. Help the homeless apply for aid 48. Stand up for the civil rights of the homeless 49. Join Habitat for Humanity 50. Form a transitional housing program 51. Write to organizations 52. Contact your government representatives 53. Push for state homelessness prevention programs 54. Send us your ideas Note from Harmony: the server which has the online book "54 Ways to Help the Homeless" seems to be down. I will try to search out another site on which it is mirrored, because it goes into more details.